6 May 1917. Alexander Kolchak

Non-fiction

Project 1917 is a series of events that took place a hundred years ago as described by those involved. It is composed only of diaries, letters, memoirs, newspapers and other documents

Alexander Kolchak

Headquarters of the Northern Front, Pskov, Russian Empire

In the evening I left for Pskov, where at the time there was a meeting of army commanders, where were Alexeev, Ruzskiy and a slew of army representatives—army commanders and heads of staffs from the whole front. In Pskov we listened to reports from various commanders. The picture that emerged from this exceeded all my worst expectations.

I completely did not expect that there were things happening in the army that were openly reported by members of the commanding corps—fraternisation with the Germans, sale of arms, the unrestrained abandonment of the front that was starting. In other words, there was a complete breakdown of the army. No one could really suggest any kind of measures that could be taken to prevent this breakdown and to solve this difficult situation. In relation to the fact that a suggestion arose that ending the war would be the solution, I have to say that the majority opinion was that the war had to continue at all cost. I don’t remember any singular opinion about the end of the war and, to the contrary, the overall opinion was that we cannot end the war. So, the meeting only acknowledged the fact of the army breakdown, without creating any measures to fight it.

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Elizaveta Naryshkina

Tsarskoye Selo, Russian Empire

Empress's name day passed quietly. Instead of hundreds of telegrams, only 3: from M-me Komstadius, Tolstoy-Bekhteeva, and the sweetest Lily Obolenskaya, who sent a lovely letter by express mail. She has a noble heart. They were congratulating until the afternoon mass. During the day I went out; it was rather warm, despite the horrible wind.

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Maxim Gorky

23, Kronversky ave., Petrograd, Russian Empire

The bright wings of our fledgling freedom are sprinkled with innocent blood. I don't know who shot at the people on the Nevsky three days ago, but whoever these people were, these people are angry and stupid, people poisoned with the venom of the rotten old regime. See more

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Alexandre Benois

38, 1st line of Vasilyevsky Island, Petrograd, Russian Empire

Our women, lead by my Akitsia, are in some state of ecstasy over Kerensky, seeing in him almost an angel that have descended from the sky—and specifically an angel of peace. This enthusiasm is shared by our kitchen staff. See more

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Felix Yusupov

the estate of Grand Duke Alexander Mikhailovich, Ai-Todor, Crimea, Russian Republic

We travelled back to Crimes in misery. A crowd of soldiers-deserters besieged the train. The corridors became full, people climbed on the roof. The third-class car collapsed from the weight. Everyone was drunk, many fell off the roof en route. See more

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Maurice Paleologue

10, Kutuzova embankment, Petrograd, Russian Empire

I have had a talk with the great metallurgist and financier, Pertilov; we exchanged gloomy forecasts of the inevitable consequences of present events.

"A Russian revolution," I said, "can only be disruptive and destructive. because the first effect of a revolution is to liberate popular instincts, and the instincts of the Russian people are essentially anarchic. Never before have I so well understood the prayer wrung out of Pushkin by Pugatchev's adventure: May God spare us the sight of another Russian revolution, a thing of horror and absurdity!" See more

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Nicholas II

Children's Island

Wonderful weather presented itself for dear Alix. Before mass one of the men living in the palace and also our servants congratulated her. I ate, as always, alone. At 2 o'clock the whole family went out into the garden. We worked on the pond around the Children's Island. We broke up all the ice. We returned home at 4:30. I read to myself till dinner and in the evening read aloud. At 9 o'clock I started reading again.

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5 May

"Everything will be fine. Russia will be great again. But how long we have to wait, and how hard to wait until it that day comes!"

Debussy’s new sonata

The Soviets come into direct conflict with the Provisional Government

1916: Year in Review.

From one revolution to another

Russia in 1917

+11

in Petrograd

in Moscow